Means for guiding and propelling steamships.



. Patented Mar.'4, I902. L. SHEB. MEANS FOR GUIDING AND PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS."

- (Application fllod si s. a4. 1901.

(No Model.) w

2 Shaets-Shoot v Patented Mar. 4, I902. v L. SHEIL- IEANS FOB GUIDING ANIIPBOPELLING STEAIISHIPS.

A li'nion filed s n. 24; 1901. v (in Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet at Q 4 .2. MY. E

cams nrrsas 00,, PHOTOLITMQ. WASHINGTON u c UNITE? STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS SHER, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

MEANS FOR GUIDING AND PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,433, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed September 24,1901. Serial No. 7 ,390. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS SHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, county of Atlantic, andState of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Means for Guiding and Propelling Steamships, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in means for guiding and propelling stcamships, and has forits object to provide a cable extending from one terminus to the other of the steamship-line secured at both ends and supported throughout its length by a series of buoys and held in place by a series of anchors, said cable passing through the ship by a series of wheels rotating in frictional contact with the cable.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make'and use the same, theconstruction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichv I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steamship traveling by means of my improved cable system. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the ship, showing the means for propelling the ship along the cable; Fig. 3, a perspectiveview of a portion of a cable and'means employed for supporting the same and holding it in .pla'ce; and Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig.

3, showing a modified formof constructing the framework.

Referring to Figs. 1,' 2, and 3 of the drawings, A represents the cable, which will be manufactured of sufficient strength to withstand the strain, and thiscable extends from one terminus to the other of the steamshipline and is rigidly secured at each end to the shore. B is a series of buoys arranged upon each side of the cable throughout its length a predetermined distance apart. Each of the buoys has a downwardly-depending rod 0 secured thereto, and the buoys opposite one another are joined together by the V-shaped metallic frame D, and over these V-shaped frames the cable A is adapted to rest when in its normal position, and the cable will naturally seek the center, and thereby lie midway between the buoys and the upper rods 0. The V-shaped frames 0 are held in position relative to one another by means of the cables E, which connect the V- shaped frames together, and at the same ti me adds flexibility to the whole structure. Upon the lower end of the upright rods 0 are secured cables F, to which are attached anchors G. These cables F are long enough to allow the anchors to drag upon the ground, so as to hold the structure in place. The steamship is formed with a passage H, which extends entirely through the ship longitudinally, and the vessel is adapted to run between the line of buoys, and the cable is lifted up from its bed upon the structure as the ship progresses, and after the ship has passed the cable resumes its position in the V-shaped frames,'which are located below the level of the keel of the vessel. Upon the interior of the vessel is located a compartment I, with which the opening H communicates and through which the cable extends. L0- cated in this compartment I are a series of grooved wheels 'J, which engage the cable upon each side, so that when said wheels are revolved the vessel will be'moved forward along the cable A because of the frictional contact between the wheels J and said cable. Of course other means could be employed for engaging the cable for the purpose of propolling the vesselfand I have only endeavored to show it in its simplest form. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of the supporting-framework. This consists of two parallel truss-frames K, extending the full length of the cable upon each side of the same and parallel therewith. This continuous truss-framework is supported at intervals by means of the buoys B and the vertical rods 0, as in the former construction, and anchors G are attached to the lower end of the. rods for the purpose of holding the structure in place. Cross-frames L extend across between the two side frames K opposite each pair of buoys, and the cable A is adapted to rest, when in its normal position, upon these crossframes L, and for the purpose of causing the cable'to always seek the center of the cross frames I secure upon each side the rods M, which are secured to the upright rods 0 at a point above the framework, and each rod M extends inward toward the center of the crossframes L and downward at an angle to about forty-five degrees. These rods accomplish the same purpose as the V-shaped frame D in the former construction. This latter construction is much stronger than the former and is intended to be used in Very deep waters.

The advantages of my invention are that a vessel may be propelled much faster, because the cable will ofier solid resistance, and the vessel will also be guided in its course, and thus be out of danger of collisions or the like even in fogg 7 weather, and the cable A could be utilized for the telegraph-cable, in which case the vessel would always be in connection with the shore in case of accidents.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as numerous modifications could. be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a cable extending from one-terminus of a steamship-line to the other and secured rigidly to the shore at each end, said cable adapted to pass longitudinally through a vessel and be acted upon by friction wheels, thereby furnishinga frictional surface for the propulsion of the vessel, a supporting-framework running parallel with the cable from one terminus to the other and lying at a level in the water below the keel of the vessel, buoys connected to said framework at predetermined intervals, anchors connected to said framework at predetermined intervals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a cable extending from one terminus to the other of a steamship-line, and rigidly secured at each end to the shore, a series of buoys arranged upon each side of the cable and at predetermined intervals throughout its length, vertical rods descending from said buoys, V-shaped frames secured to said vertical rods and extending across between each pair of the same, the cable adapted to rest upon said V-shapod frames, cables securing the V-shaped frames against displacement, cables secured to the lower end of the vertical rods, anchors secured to said cables, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a cable, a supporting-framework for the cable consisting of two truss side frames extending the entire length of the cable and upon each side of the same, buoys located at predetermined intervals for supporting said frames,anchors arranged at suitable intervals for holding the structu rein place,cross-frames extend ing across between the two side frames, the cable resting, when in its normal position, upon said cross-frames, means attached to the framework for guiding the cable to the center of the cross-frames, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS SHER.

\Vitnesses:

B. ENGLANDER, L. W. MoRRIsoN. 

